Would trading up for Clowney pay off

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are contemplating moving up from their seventh pick to the second pick.

At least that’s what the rumors say.

Pro Football Talk reported earlier Tuesday evening, “That the Bucs are trying to move up to No. 2”

Tales fly all the time, particularly since the draft is in less than 48 hours.

The Buccaneers may be pushing to acquire the second pick in order to draft defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, linebacker Khalil Mack or wide receiver Sammy Watkins.

The top seven choices currently belong to the Texans, Rams, Jaguars, Browns, Raiders, Falcons and the Buccaneers.

Out of the six ahead of Tampa Bay, the Jaguars and Browns have a demand at wide out and linebacker and could select Watkins or Mack at three or four correspondingly.

The Jaguars, Browns and Raiders also are exploring the options for a new quarterback. With four teams (including the Texans at number one) with a need for a field-general, and only three creams of the crop quarterbacks in Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel and Blake Bortles, the competition is already ultra-high.

Unlike Watkins, Mack, Manziel, Bortles or Bridgewater, there isn’t even a modicum chance that Clowney will last to the Bucs at seven, due to the need of a defensive end by the Raiders at five and the Falcons at six.

Which steers me to believe that the Buccaneers are bartering their way up to select Clowney rather than Watkins, Mack or a quarterback.

This is why it’s an absurd decision.

According to the infamous “Draft pick value chart,” the Bucs are currently at 1500 points with their seventh pick, 520 with their second round pick, 69 with their third round, 34.5 with their fifth round, 17.4 with their sixth round pick, and 3.0 points with their seventh round pick. A total of 2,319.9 points. Each future first round pick is worth 1,000 points.

The second pick for comparison is worth 2,600 points.

There are numerous ways that the Bucs could chase this trade, most likely to involve the seventh pick (1,500), next years first round pick (1,000) and the third and fifth round this year (103.5).

Keep in mind that the trade value chart is just a loose evaluation. The Rams could ask for a much loftier amount for the second pick. It wouldn’t be the first time they did that anyway.

Trading all of those picks for one player scarcely works for the team giving up everything. What’s worse is that if it doesn’t thrive thoroughly, the team is usually left to try and recuperate without any draft picks for a year or two. Ask any Washington Redskins fan how they feel right now for a better idea.

This is why it’s a prodigious decision.

Head coach Lovie Smith is a defensive coach. He’s been in command of players such as Brian Urlacher and Julius Peppers. If anyone comprehends how to best utilize defensive players, maximize their potential and succeed, it’s Lovie.

Pair a defensive coach with one of the greatest defensive ends in draft history, and we could see a new player define Lovie Smith’s career.

On a more direct tactic, the Buccaneers have a craving for a defensive end. Why not trade up to draft arguably the most gifted player in the draft and have the convenience to fill a flaw on the team?